e e+ e>

By Paul J. Hannig, Ph.D. MFCC

What a great question! This one has many answers from different directions. Metaphorically, you
could say that there are demonic aspects to lust. But, first we must acknowledge that most living
creatures possess some aspect of intense sexual desire based on deep longing and craving for
sexual experience. Lust is a basic instinctive drive and is deeply rooted in the genital energy
centers of the body as well as having correlates in the reptilian and old mammalian brain
systems. The neurochemicals of lust may consist of oxytocin for females and vasopressin for
males. Dopamine pleasure centers may also play a part in the brain chemistry of lust.

The regulation of these chemical centers may depend on the chemistry of the neocortex control
and channeling centers. Now, what does that mean? We humans have a very complex cerebral
symbolic, metaphorical emotional/cognitive system that helps us to survive and exist in complex
societies. Spiritually, we live within a context of civilization and tribal socialization. Survival and
thriving depend on building and creating higher value systems based on honoring and loving one
another. These latter energy systems are much more recent in our evolutionary history and have
been very responsible for our success as a species.

Boiling it down to basics, lust is good when it is channeled and directed towards socially accepted
and approved objects and people. When I use the term "good," in terms of judgments based on
good and bad, evil and righteous, I am applying universal principles and archetypes based in
second and third chakra judgments.

Question: But, that doesn't answer the question about a demon of lust.

Answer: Forgive me! I tend not to give simple answers to complex phenomena. But,
metaphorically and archetypally speaking, deviation from consensus rules and norms takes us
into the realm of the spiritual. And that includes the demonic. I'll give you an example. You need
lust and genital energy to seek out communion and connection to possible mates. This is usually
a first step to securing a sexual love match. On the lower second chakra genital energy system,
you are driven by sexual desire. Eventually, your fourth chakra heart energy system kicks in and
you feel love towards a particular person. None of this could happen unless you were energized
by the attraction/repulsion energy processes of the second chakra/yesod/communion system.
The dichotomy of the yesod sefirot consists of spiritual divisions of good and evil. When you
direct your communion sexual energies through the right channels, you are favoring the godly
course. When you direct your lustful power outside of the realm of your conscience, you have
entered the demonic or evil inclination.

It is at that point, that you would be engaging the metaphors, archetypes, symbols, images and
beliefs of what we call the spiritual or super natural realm of consciousness. Your tribal system
(first chakra) will determine the content and structure of your demonic/dark side and your
transcendent eternal light side. If your tribal system explains the misdirection of your lust in
demonic terms, you'll categorize sexual straying as belonging to the demon realm. When such a
conflict arises, you are faced with a crisis of conscience. Here you are, driven by sexual lust to a
forbidden or taboo activity, situation, object or person and the pangs of conscience literally
torment you with guilt and depression mixed with powerful sexual tensions and drives. The end
result could be a mental breakdown, a personality regressive disorder or, at least, an imbalancing
of your critical energy centers. The antidote is to engage yourself in a moral and cosmic
correction process that would bring you back to your center. This can be explained in religious
terms as returning to the paths of righteousness.

This internal war is fought on many levels of internal consciousness. The choices that you make,
will determine your ultimate fate and consequences. Seduction is a universal, collective
phenomenon and is used in all aspects of human interaction. How you use your second chakra
seductive inclinations will determine your psychological, emotional and spiritual destiny and fate.
A case in point would be the biblical story of the mutual seduction of King David and Bathsheba.
In my opinion, they were both driven to sexually lust after one another based on second chakra
instinctual, unconscious mental maps driven by mystical archetypes. Hebrew civilization
condemned their actions and demanded reparations for their so-called sins. After a period of
redemption, salvation and forgiveness, a price and a sacrifice had been offered to the God of
Israel for payment due on the unbalanced second chakra/yesod/communion energy centers.
What followed would be considered a classic love match based on redemption, reconnection and
soul mating. The prize for redemption, of course, is reward through the birth of Solomon.

Question: Are you saying that there was a possible demon of lust involved in the mutually
seductive actions of David and Bathsheba?

Answer: It certainly looks that way. But, there is a higher power involved in what is called a
cosmic (tikune) correction process. For David and Bathsheba, the door to soulmate
transcendence proceeded through the sin of lust. In that context, a demon Spirit may have been
instrumental in the inevitable struggle for these two individuals to reunite their souls in soulmate
destiny. Pain and backsliding may be important elements in helping anyone learn what is
necessary in order to elevate to higher levels of spiritual consciousness. The ultimate truth
depends upon what choice you make when you are faced with the activation of your second
chakra lustful sexual inclinations. Your instincts require a spiritual and chemical governor in order
to help you direct or redirect your genital energies in the right direction. That action seems to
require some sort of emotional and spiritual intercourse and interaction with the higher spiritual
power, which we call God.

When powerful sexual inclinations reach sinful levels, I believe that suppression of the urges is not
helpful. I suggest that when the demon of lust begins to lead you in a very dangerous direction, that
you sink into the experience and work through it spiritually. Examples of individuals who
consciously struggled through their sinful leanings would include St. Augustine, Martin Luther and
more recently, J immy Swaggert. These people openly confessed their transgressions and
supposedly elevated themselves to higher moral planes. The sacrament of confession seems
particularly helpful in this area.

Question: But, what do you do when a woman or man displays himself in a sexually
seductive and available manner?

Answer: Yesod, communion and the second chakra all contain the energies of sexual display
and seduction. Consider the fascination that males have towards female buttocks and breasts.
And that's not just any buttocks and breasts. Your second chakra mental sexual mapping may
contain very specific types of facial structures and expressions that have very powerful attraction
elements. The same mapping process also contains repulsion factors. Remember, yesod and the
second chakra deals with attraction and repulsion. I must also warn you, that the magnetic
aspects of the sexual energies can change and be modified by many different mental
circumstances. In other words, what may appear to you to be very sexy and beautiful at one point
could turn completely in the opposite direction at another point. That is to say, sexual object
attraction, given the right painful circumstances, could turn to obnoxious repulsion.

But, if you are in a situation where you feel your sexual energies are being pulled away from your
principal love partner towards someone else: this could be quite dissonant for you. You still have
a choice to redirect your sexual and heart chakra love energies back to your original partner. If
that is what you desire. It all depends on your choice of what you wish to gain or lose. The
ultimate choice is where and upon whom you wish to bestow your desire. As I have mentioned,
you have the choice to direct your libidinal, erotic sexual energies on whomever you wish.
Sometimes, your choices will be destructive and sometimes they will lead to greater joy, pleasure
and happiness - which are also important aspects of second chakra energies.

Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil, for thine name's sake!

Question: What is Yesod?

Answer: Yesod is the kaballah equivalent to the second chakra/phallic, genital subtle energy
systems. It is also related to the Christian concept of communion, which promotes the code of
Honor One Another. It deals with our relationships to one another. It eventually leads to the fourth
chakra principle of Love One Another. Disordered yesod functioning could lead to excessive or
fixated energies based on hedonism and the exclusive pursuit of pleasure. Symbolically, Hugh
Hefner's Playboy empire typifies the high energy pursuit of joyful sexual behavior, seductiveness
and display. Isolated yesod energies may not tune into higher order emotional and spiritual
faculties of a physically attractive person. If you are drawn sexually and physically to someone
else and you base your communion needs solely on that area, you are probably at a more
primitive level of soulmate preparation.

A more sophisticated and spiritually mature person would not only be attracted to a person's
physicality and sexuality, they would also be highly tuned in to the emotional and spiritual
development of that individual. It seems that physical and sexual magnetic attraction occurs first
in our evolutionary interactions with one another. It is only later on, when more intimacy develops,
that you may become acutely aware of the level of spiritual and emotional evolution of a potential
partner. However, for any kind of mating to take place, there has to be that early powerful
yesod/second chakra energy attraction. In and of itself, sexual magnetism is not enough to
cement and meld a long-lasting powerful love relation communion. Long-lasting, permanent
relationships do require a replenishment and consistent activation of sexual passion and
attraction in order to sustain and build soulmating connections. Combine that with higher order
and levels of spiritual/energy infusions of consciousness and you have soulmate stability. That
also requires the second chakra capability for protecting and maintaining the boundaries and
integrity of that relationship.

If you can't attain and sustain those activities, you will activate negative second chakra
warfare/demolition energies. If you have any doubts about your ability to work through and
transcend your yesod inclinations, you can always meditate and pray to God for deliverance,
wisdom and understanding. If you believe that you are ready for true soul mating, praying to the
divine power to send you your soulmate, is absolutely appropriate and recommended. Don't try to
do this all on your own, based on your limited powers of judgment. Trust in God to hook you up
with your better/other half. At the same time, don't be afraid to ask for heavy infusions of wisdom
and understanding.